Cherries: MacDonald signs new long-term contract (From Bournemouth Echo)

Cherries: MacDonald signs new long-term contract

3:00pm Friday 25th January 2013 in Sport By Ian Wadley

NEW DEAL: Shaun MacDonald

SHAUN MacDonald today committed his future to Cherries and then insisted Eddie Howe’s men could fulfil their Championship ambitions.

Cherries this afternoon confirmed the central midfielder had completed the paperwork on a new long-term deal which will tie him to the club until the summer of 2016.

Welshman MacDonald, whose contract had been set to expire at the end of this season, signed following talks which stretched back to December.

He followed in the footsteps of Marc Pugh and Harry Arter in pledging his allegiance to Cherries since the appointment of boss Howe.

And the 24-year-old highlighted the club’s promotion credentials – and the return of Howe – as influential factors in his decision.

MacDonald, currently sidelined with an ankle injury, told the Daily Echo: “It is a great place to live, the fans have been unbelievable and they deserve a lot of credit.

“Even though I have been out injured, I have still had some brilliant messages from them which have made me want to come back quicker from injury.

“The manager and Jason (Tindall, assistant boss) coming back is a massive factor in me wanting to do well here. With the team we have got, I think we have definitely got the ability and character to match the ambition of wanting to get into the next league.

“I think about all that kind of stuff and everything matches what I want to do, so I have got no reason not to want to stay. I am loving my time here.”

MacDonald has scored four goals in 46 appearances since joining Cherries for £80,000 from Swansea City in August 2011.

The former Wales under-21 captain flourished under Howe before being sidelined by ankle ligament damage, sustained six weeks ago tomorrow.

MacDonald, who is ahead of schedule in his bid to regain full fitness, is aiming to pick up where he left off when he returns to action.

He added: “Coming from Swansea, my hometown club, to Bournemouth, I don’t think things could have gone any better.

“Football reasons were why I came here and I have played quite a lot of games. Hopefully, I can continue to do that.”

• Cherries development squad members Alex Moth and Ryan Case have joined Wimborne Town on loan, the Magpies this afternoon confirmed.